Amen. Lord have mercy. Celebrant

32 Pages·2014·1.11 MB·English

by  Christ Episcopal Church

CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

CLINTON PARISH
Diocese of Washington
ESTABLISHED 1875

THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
9:00 AM
DECEMBER 14, 2014

The Rev. Cassandra Mateo Burton, Rector
The Third Sunday of Advent 9:00 AM December 14, 2014

We welcome you as we join together in worship.

PRELUDE “In God We Trust” [ARR. C. PARRISH]

PROCESSIONAL “On Jordan’s Bank” (Winchester New) The Hymnal 1982, # 76

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THE LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH
By The Rev. Sheila N. McJilton, St David's Episcopal Church,
Wilmington, DE. © 2006

Reader #1: Today is the third Sunday of Advent. Advent is a time of waiting.
We wait for God to send divine love and light into our dark world.

Reader #2: How does this happen?

Reader #1: God’s light comes through Jesus, who became a human being just
like you and me, so that he could show us the way back to God’s divine love
and light.

People: “Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among
us. Let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Reader #3: A reading from the prophet Zephaniah: “Jerusalem, the time is
coming, when it will be said to you: ‘Don’t be discouraged or grow weak from
fear! The LORD your God wins victory after victory and is always with you. He
celebrates and sings because of you, and he will refresh your life with his
love.”

Reader #1: We continue to wait for the coming of Jesus. Last Sunday, we
began in the dark, and then we lit two candles. Today, on the third Sunday of
Advent, we light three candles.

First, second, and third candles are lit. While this is being done, the following
is read:

Reader #2: Every week in Advent, we light another candle. Each candle that
we light reminds us that the Light of the World will soon come to us in the
human form of the baby Jesus, the Messiah who will show us the way back to
God.

People: The Messiah is on the way to us. As we prepare for his coming,
may we repent of our sins. May we remember our baptisms with water.
May we be ready to be baptized with God’s Holy Spirit and fire. May we be
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ready to help our Lord proclaim the good news of God’s love to all people,
so that the world will be filled with joy. Amen.

OPENING ACCLAMATION

Celebrant: Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People: And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen

KYRIE “Lord, have mercy” [AVON GILLESPIE] Lift Every Voice Hymnal , # 237

THE WORD OF THE LORD

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Let us pray.

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THE DECALOGUE

Celebrant: Hear the commandments of God to his people:
I am the Lord your God who brought you out of bondage.
You shall have no other gods but me.
People: Amen. Lord have mercy.
Celebrant: You shall not make for yourself any idol.
People: Amen. Lord have mercy.
Celebrant: You shall not invoke with malice the Name of the Lord your God.
People: Amen. Lord have mercy.
Celebrant: Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy.
People: Amen. Lord have mercy.
Celebrant: Honor your father and your mother.
People: Amen. Lord have mercy.
Celebrant: You shall not commit murder.
People: Amen. Lord have mercy.
Celebrant: You shall not commit adultery.
People: Amen. Lord have mercy.
Celebrant: You shall not steal.
People: Amen. Lord have mercy.
Celebrant: You shall not be a false witness.
People: Amen. Lord have mercy.
Celebrant: You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.
People: Amen. Lord have mercy.

THE COLLECT OF THE DAY

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and,
because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and
mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom,
with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

THE LESSONS The people sit.

A reading from the Book of Isaiah 61:1 – 4, 8 – 11 (LECTOR)

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the
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brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the
prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance
of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in
Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of
mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called
oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory. They
shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. For
I the LORD love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give
them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring
among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a
people whom the LORD has blessed. I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my
whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments
of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a
bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with
her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes
what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and
praise to spring up before all the nations.

The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.

Psalm 126 In convertendo (LEM 2)
The people respond after the asterisk.

1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, *
then were we like those who dream.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, *
and our tongue with shouts of joy.
3 Then they said among the nations, *
"The LORD has done great things for them."
4 The LORD has done great things for us, *
and we are glad indeed.
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5 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, *
like the watercourses of the Negev.
6 Those who sowed with tears *
will reap with songs of joy.
7 Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, *
will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.

A reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians 5: 16 – 24
(LEM 1)

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this
is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not
despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good;
abstain from every form of evil. May the God of peace himself sanctify you
entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and
he will do this.

The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.

SEQUENCE HYMN “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord” [JAMES E. MOORE, JR.]
Lift Every Voice Hymnal , # 11, stz. 1 – 2
Hymn on next page.
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Hymn continues on next page.
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Celebrant: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
John 1:6 – 8, 19 – 28

People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a
witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He
himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. This is the
testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from
Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" He confessed and did not deny it, but
confessed, "I am not the Messiah." And they asked him, "What then? Are
you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered,
"No." Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those
who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" He said, "I am the voice of
one crying out in the wilderness, `Make straight the way of the Lord,'" as the
prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked
him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah,
nor the prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you
stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am
not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." This took place in Bethany
across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

After the gospel

Celebrant: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

HYMN “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord” [JAMES E. MOORE, JR.]
Lift Every Voice Hymnal , # 11, stz. 3
Hymn begins on page 8.

THE SERMON Art Taylor

THE NICENE CREED (LEM 1 and People)

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
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